Senior Engineer/Construction Manager

Are we the road to your future?

Volkert is employee-owned and Top 100 nationally ranked professional services firm, committed to providing clients with creative solutions for sustainability, including improvements to infrastructure, the environment, and natural resources. Founded in 1925, Volkert continues to the next century of serving our employees, clients, partners, and communities. 

We are currently searching for an experienced Senior Engineer/Construction Manager to support our Maritime and Port service line in the Gulf Coast Region. This position will support work throughout the Gulf Coast region and be located in any of Volkert’s Gulf Coast offices in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana. Regional travel and/or remote work are required as needed.

The Senior Engineer/Construction Manager provides technical design, project management and construction management for all port and intermodal projects. Candidate should be familiar with all aspects of Port and Maritime Design and Construction including but not limited to terminal expansion, channel dredging and disposal area construction, bulkhead design and installation, wharf upgrades, rail design and construction, utility installation, vertical building construction, and related electrical utilities. Candidate should also be familiar with Federal Regulatory permitting and compliance as well as other environmental requirements. 

What you’ll be doing:

Project Execution

• Serve as Lead Design engineer for port and maritime projects from concept through design and bid package preparation for procurement
• Manage and deliver construction of port and maritime projects
• Acts as the Company representative with the client and internal subconsultants as well as third party consultants and contractors during project execution
• Acts as the Owner’s (Client) Representative in all communications and interactions with design firms, contractors, suppliers, and other professional/trade service providers during all phases of assigned projects from pre-design through post-construction
• Prepares a Project Execution Plan (PEP) that identifies the project team organization, identifies each task or phase and all work that must be performed to complete the project, outlines a schedule to ensure timely completion of assigned projects, and develops staffing requirements needed to complete the project
• Conducts project kick-off meetings to review the PEP with project team members, clients, and other stakeholders
• Ensures Project Quality Control reviews are conducted and documented
• Manages project close-out and ensures all files and documents are retained per corporate policy and client requirements
• Maintains daily contact with field personnel during all field activities, including coordination with rail operators, flagging services, and ensuring compliance with rail safety protocols and right-of-way access requirements

Project Monitoring and Review

• Is responsive and maintains direct contact with clients on a continuing basis to discuss technical and scheduling issues
• Conducts project staff meetings to review progress and further communication and coordination within the team
• Participates in month-end project reviews that coincide with monthly invoicing and status reports
• Prepares and presents detailed project reviews for the Group Manager and client
• Monitors and reports progress milestones associated with the design, bid, and construction phases of assigned projects, including rail-specific milestones such as track outages, signal installations, and coordination with railroad stakeholders
• Prepares and issues monthly project progress reports
• Maintains accurate documentation of job progress through daily logs and other reports

Project Control

• Develops project documents, processes, and procedures required to support quality control and final project deliverables
• Monitors, tracks, administers, and enforces contract terms and requirements with all design and construction service providers on behalf of the client/owner
• Aids in the development, implementation, and maintenance of master budgets and schedules for assigned projects
• Ensures that all technical design changes are approved to conform to the standards, systems and procedures prescribed by project requirements, including applicable rail industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., FRA guidelines where applicable)
• Solicits the help of the Group Manager, Operations Manager and other Project Managers, as appropriate, to solve scheduling or technical issues encountered in progress of the work.
• Ensures proper documentation and timely communication of requests for information (RFIs), architectural supplemental instructions (ASIs), contract addenda, shop drawings and submittals, change order requests, and other project and program communications
• Reviews and approves schedules of values, payment applications, and change order requests from contractors, design consultants, and other project participants as needed on behalf of the owner and/or client
• Maintains project files and document archive using web-based project management information system (PMIS) and other project management software
• Evaluates the effect of scope changes on project budgets and schedules, then negotiates with the client and/or service providers to adjust fees as required to accommodate such scope changes.
• Reviews, approves, and provides necessary documentation for invoicing in a timely manner
• Anticipates problems and works with clients, architects/engineers, contractors, and field personnel to identify and implement corrective actions when needed, including those unique to rail operations, staging, and active corridor constraints
• Keeps client informed of the day-to-day activities of all assigned projects

What you need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Civil or Port Engineering Construction Management/Architecture/Engineering or related field
• A broad design and construction management background and project/program management experience on large-scale port and maritime projects, with exposure to terminal and rail-related projects preferred
• Minimum 10+ years of relevant design and construction project management experience; previous experience as an architect/engineer, commercial construction contractor, military, and/or institutional facilities manager may be considered relevant and applicable
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) 
• Construction estimating and/or scheduling experience a plus
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Volkert adheres to federal guidelines, which may include testing for substances such as marijuana. Please note that federal regulations may differ from state-specific guidelines
• Valid driver’s license and a satisfactory motor vehicle report (MVR)

Key Benefits:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Medical, Dental, & Vision
• 401(k) retirement savings plan + employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employer-paid Life/AD&D insurance
• Employer-paid short-term disability & long-term disability
• Wellness incentives
• Student debt retirement match
• Additional voluntary benefits

The words from our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas A. Hand, PE, capture best how you can make an impact while working for Volkert. 

“For a century, Volkert has done meaningful work that improves our infrastructure and quality of life throughout our communities. We are proud of our one-hundred-year legacy and humbled by the opportunities ahead of us as we look forward to our next century of service. With our commitment to employee ownership and sustainable growth, you can build a career here that really makes a difference.”

– Thomas A. Hand, PE, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

EOE-Race/Sex/Veteran/Disabled

Volkert does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services.

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